How I Aced the TOEFL iBT Exam: Proven Tips and Strategies for Success

The TOEFL iBT exam is designed to assess your academic English skills, but you don’t have to be an expert to succeed. With the right preparation, you can easily achieve your target scores.

In my case, I needed a minimum of 57 on Reading, Listening, and Writing and a 24 on Speaking to meet the application requirements for the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools. By using effective strategies, I not only met my goals but surpassed them!

I excelled in the Listening and Speaking sections and came incredibly close to achieving a perfect total score. Above is a screenshot of my score report, showcasing my achievement.

Effective TOEFL iBT Preparation: My Step-by-Step Approach

Here’s how I aced the TOEFL iBT test, with a strong focus on Speaking and Writing, which I found to be the most challenging sections. Follow these tips and strategies to boost your chances of success on your test! 

Disclaimer: This post is a personal account and is not an official guide. I am not affiliated with TOEFL, ETS, or any of the institutions mentioned.

Stick to a TOEFL Preparation Plan.

Week 1: Familiarize yourself with the TOEFL format. Knowing the structure of each section will help you reduce confusion, even if your English skills are already strong.

Day 1: Establish Your Baseline

• Take a full TOEFL iBT practice test to evaluate your current level.
• I recommend using the TOEFL iBT Official Study Guide (6th Edition), which includes four practice tests and helpful tips.
• Familiarize yourself with TOEFL scoring guidelines (available at ETS.org) to understand how each section is graded.

Days 2-6: Section-by-Section Focus

• Day 2: Study the Reading section by completing practice sets and reviewing tips.
• Continue by dedicating each day to a different section (Listening, Writing, Speaking). Use the TOEFL iBT Official Study Guide and videos from TST Prep TOEFL to improve.
• On the last day of week 1, review all sections and assess your progress.

Here are segments from TOEFL's scoring guidelines, which are available on ETS.org, that provide information about how to get a perfect score.

Employ TOEFL Test-Taking Strategies

How I Excelled in the TOEFL Speaking Section

General Tip: 

• Use templates for effective answers. Using templates can streamline your process of answering questions, as they offer a clear structure for organizing your ideas. Simply fill in the necessary information. The TOEFL computer scoring system typically awards higher scores for complex sentence structures, such as compound sentences. 
• Think in English to Speak Naturally. Thinking in English helps improve your fluency and reduces awkward pauses in conversation. To enhance your speaking skills, try to minimize the time spent planning how to expand on your thoughts.
• Adjust Your Speaking Speed. If your response is brief, slow down. If you have multiple points, speak slightly faster to meet the time requirements.

By implementing these strategies, you can significantly improve your performance on speaking assessments like the TOEFL.

How to Master TOEFL Speaking Question 1?

Question 1 asks about your own experiences and opinions. 

• Start quickly. Quickly read the question to grasp the main idea. Begin jotting down keywords and essential points immediately. With only 15 seconds to prepare, concentrate on writing down key terms instead of full sentences to maximize your time effectively.
• Trust your instincts.  While you may feel tempted to craft a complex answer, it's crucial to stick with your initial idea. Overthinking can waste valuable preparation time and detract from the clarity of your response.
• Incorporate personal experiences. Relate your answer to your own life by using personal examples. Evaluators appreciate real-life anecdotes as they demonstrate your ability to connect personal experiences to broader themes.

Here is an example of what your notes could look like:

Image from Sharpe, P., Matthiesen S.J. (2013)

• Use shortcuts in your notes. To save time, write shortcuts instead of complete sentences. Abbreviate words and create symbols that work for you.
• Effective answer structure. When answering questions, start with the main idea followed by supporting details, examples, or explanations. This approach lets you keep your responses to just 2-3 sentences.

What about Questions 2 to 4?

Question 2 typically involves a passage discussing a campus policy change. The accompanying recording features speakers either agreeing or disagreeing with the change. You have 30 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to present your response. 

Question 3 focuses on a particular academic topic. Similar to Question 2, you will have 30 seconds for preparation and 60 seconds to deliver your answer. 

Question 4. This question consists solely of a 2-3 minute lecture recording. You will need to summarize the content in 60 seconds, with only 20 seconds for preparation. 

Key Skills for Success:

1. Active Reading: Focus on the main idea. Ask yourself questions like: What is the main point? Who are the speakers? What examples do they give? 
2. Active Listening: Pay close attention while listening to the recording. Take notes to help remember the key points for your response. 
3. Paraphrasing: This skill helps you summarize information clearly. Practice using different words to explain the same ideas, which shows a good vocabulary.

Mastering TOEFL Writing: Effective Strategies

• Utilize templates. Just like in the speaking section, having a written template can streamline your writing process and enhance organization.
• Type first, think later. Avoid overthinking by consistently typing your initial thoughts. This approach helps prevent time loss and allows for focused revisions in the last 2-3 minutes. Aim for an effective response length of 150-225 words.
• Master the integrated writing task. This task involves analyzing both a reading passage and a lecture. Be sure to take thorough notes during the lecture to effectively integrate information into your writing.

By following these strategies, you can improve your writing efficiency and clarity in the TOEFL writing section.

Utilize a Variety of Effective Study Materials

Using a mix of study materials can significantly boost your learning. Here’s a list of resources that helped me prepare for the TOEFL iBT exam:

Books

• Educational Testing Service. (2020). Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT Test, Sixth Edition (Official Guide to the TOEFL Test. (6th Ed.). McGraw Hill.
• Sharpe, P., Matthiesen S.J. (2013). Barron's TOEFL iBT Superpack (2nd Ed.). Barrons Educational Series.

Videos

• TOEFL Speaking TEMPLATES, Quick and Easy from TST Prep TOEFL
• Top 10 Listening Tips from TST Prep TOEFL
  
• Top 10 Reading Tips from TST Prep TOEFL
  
• TOEFL Speaking: How to QUICKLY Improve By 3 Points by TST Prep TOEFL
  
• TOEFL Writing: 5 Mistakes You Must Avoid from TST Prep TOEFL
  

Conclusion: Achieve TOEFL Success with the Right Preparation

To succeed on the TOEFL iBT exam, consistency is key. By following a structured study plan, employing targeted strategies for each section, and using the best study materials, you can significantly improve your chances of achieving your desired score. Remember, success doesn’t require perfection in English—just strategic preparation!